(Beijing May 31) "The Olympic Games set up a two-hour length for the marathon swimming, so we chose the 10km as an official event for the Games," said Nory Kruchten, vice president of the International Swimming Federation (FINA).

50 swimmers, 25 men and 25 women, will be competing in the Beijing Olympic marathon swimming tournament. Qualifiers are decided by both the 5th FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships held in April 2008 and the ongoing "Good Luck Beijing" 2008 Olympic Qualification.

"All qualifications belong to the athletes themselves. Those who don't get the approval from the IOC will be replaced by his or her successor automatically," Kruchten added.

"The FINA president and its executive members have put so much effort (into the inclusion of marathon swimming in Olympic Games), and we'd like to appreciate IOC and BOCOG for their support. I wish the Beijing Olympic marathon swimming tournament a great success, as it would be a remarkable achievement for FINA," Kruchten said.

The "Good Luck Beijing" 2008 Marathon Swimming Olympic Women's Qualification concluded today with 11 more swimmers qualifying for the Olympic Games in August.